Dr Don in Hong Kong!

July 1st, 2009 | by Jimmy Lee

Our managing director, Dr. Don McLean, came to visit me in Hong Kong for 2 days last week.  While he was here has gave a free seminar to introduce the forthcoming <Virtual Environment> version 6.0; including the new VE-Gaia, enhanced Sustainability and LEED Toolkits, and other new (hush hush) additions and enhancements.

The seminar was held in Caine Room, Level 7, of the Conrad Hotel on 26th June 2009 from 9:15am to11:30am.  We had 28 out of 35 people turn up, mainly engineers with a few architects, representatives from academic institutes and specialists in BIM. Companies included: Arup, Hyder Consulting, AECOM, Scott Wilson, Cundall, MTR, RMJM, InteliBuild, Integrated Design Associates Ltd, Form and Structure, and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

We received a great response from the audience with the concept of VE-Gaia drawing the most attention - people could really see how it will be much easier for them to step from the VE-Toolkits into the full capabilites of VE-Pro using VE-Gaia.  The new features of the Sustainability and LEED Toolkits also received a lot of interest among companies working on LEED projects.

We’d like to thank everyone for attending and the assistant of Tecton Limited in organising this seminar.

Jimmy Lee



Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

IES Cycle to Work day

June 12th, 2009 | by Kaye
National Bike Week

National Bike Week

Hello everyone,

It’s the UK’s National Bike Week starting from tomorrow, and we thought it would be really nice to join in!

On Wednesday morning we will provide breakfast for all members of staff who cycle to work that day, which will be good for all those hangovers from the birthday party on Tuesday night, although we’re not encouraging drunk cycling!!

If you are interested in taking part in any other cycling events in Glasgow here are the best of the bunch:

On the 21st of June there is a Heaven or Hell Charity fundraising ride. One route, two options! You can enter the event either do a 25 or 50 mile ‘CHSS Canal Cycle Challenge’, or you can take on the ‘CHSS Ultimate Duathlon’ the longest duathlon in Scotland!

For some family friendly fun why not head to Pollok Park for a cycle and a picnic.

For those that want to join in but don’t have a bike - why don’t you “celebrate life, music and saddle burn” with the folks at the Admiral Bar.

For more events in your area take a look at the Cycling Scotland website, it is FULL of fun activities!

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Sustainable Design tools at AIA 2009…

June 8th, 2009 | by Edwina

Check out this great round-up of sustainable analysis tools exhibited at AIA by Lachmi Khemlani, founder and editor of AECbytes www.aecbytes.com/feature/2009/AIA2009_EnergyApps.html.

It includes our new VE-Gaia tool which we previewed there… “IES, the leading vendor in the performance analysis field, introduced a new application, VE-Gaia, to add to its already substantial product repertoire.”

However, it was her comments in the conclusion that really struck a chord with me. It is very encouraging to have finally reached a point where the importance of analysis tools and optimisation of building performance in sustainable design is becoming widely recognised. Enabling this ease of use and access to analysis tools is at the very center of our entire ethos. These are very exciting times for us!

“The increase in the number of analysis tools is a testament to the increasing importance of sustainable design in architecture and the need to optimize building performance. Unlike in the past, when performance analysis was primarily the purview of energy experts, academics, and research institutions, they are now becoming a part of the mainstream architectural toolset, with interfaces that non-technical people can also easily use and understand. Of course, the maxim of “garbage in, garbage out” very much holds true for sustainable design tools as well, and it is easy to be seduced by the colorful diagrams and charts and omit to question the veracity of the input and the accuracy of the output. It’s terrific that we have finally reached the point where the input of building geometry to the analysis tool directly from a BIM application has become a commonplace feature—but we have to keep in mind that geometry is only one of the inputs, and that an accurate analysis depends upon a whole host of other input data that has to be specified correctly as well. It is here that the experiences and insights of an energy expert come in and play a critical role in the design of sustainable buildings. Thus, while it is great to have the tools with their ever-increasing capabilities, it is important to not forget the human element that is ultimately needed for the creation of successful sustainable architecture.”

Lachmi has a Ph.D. in Architecture from UC Berkeley, specialising in intelligent building modelling; she both consults and writes on AEC technology.  Read the full article and sign up to her newsletters at www.aecbytes.com/feature/2009/AIA2009_EnergyApps.html.

Posted in Sustainability, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Our courses now registered for AIA CES Sustainable Design Credits!

June 2nd, 2009 | by Kaye

Great news for all our US AIA members - the majority of our training courses have been registered with the AIA CES program - allowing you to gain AIA CES Learning Hours when you undertake them.  Twelve courses also count towards the new mandatory Sustainable Design credits.

Our FREE online introduction to IES is included in this - providing 1 LU hour and also counting towards the mandatory Sustainable Design credit.  Register here to attend.

Our expertise in sustainable design, both in creating analysis software and providing expert consultancy services, helps educate on how to leave a greener footprint within all stages of the design process.  The courses include sessions on solar analysis, artifical/daylighting design, and natural ventilation.  See our website for more information.

We commend the AIA Board for taking notice and making sustainable design a mandatory course requirement through 2012.  This initiative shows the importance of the growing emissions challenges within the industry, and the need to solve them immediately.

Read more about AIA CES Sustainable Design credits here…

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

IES becomes part of new gbXML Advisory Board

May 14th, 2009 | by Kaye

gbXML.org has formed a new Green Building XML (gbXML) Advisory Board which is comprised of 11 member companies, including IES.

The independent board is comprised of eleven (11) member companies that all have an interest in maintaining the gbXML schema as an open standard. The schema is the mostly widely used metadata format for transferring intelligent building information to facilitate thermal, energy, carbon, and water analyses associated with buildings.

The first meeting of the gbXML Advisory Board was held on April 21, 2009. The following companies were represented: AiRNAB, Autodesk, Bentley, Cadsoft Corporation, Carmel Software, EDSL, Greenspace Research, HVAC Solution, Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES), Trane, and Wrightsoft.

Click here to read the full gbXML.org press release.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

The Empire State Building is STILL growing!

April 14th, 2009 | by Liam

A building that stood as the world’s tallest for more than 40 years continues to grow in stature.
The Empire State Building in New York has many commonly known accolades but it was recently announced that the iconic building is to be retrofitted in an effort to improve its energy efficiency, indoor environment and carbon footprint.

A group of designers are reinventing the Empire State Building to be a new icon… of sustainability.
A reduction of a 38% in energy use has been quoted!

Some of the detailed analysis and changes to be made to the building include energy modelling, building energy consumption profiles, controlling outside air through the envelope’s windows and altering air flow within the building.

Watch ex US President Clinton speak about the project;
�

 

Other lesser-known Empire State accolades include;

  • In 1994, it was named by the American Society of Civil Engineers as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World.
  • In 2007, it was ranked number 1 as America’s Favourite Architecture, according to the American Institute of Architects.
  • It took only a year and 45 days to complete construction, without overtime!
  • 3,800,000 people visit the Empire State Building every year and it is intended to share the message of sustainability to each of those visitors.

On a final note and speaking of US Presidents, congratulations goes out to President Obama for passing the LEED NC v2.2 exam earlier this month. Click here to see his result. For those of you who didn’t check the date (you know who you are), better luck next year!

Liam

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

EPC Software Switch Forced-lodgment file changeover 25th April!

March 24th, 2009 | by David McEwan

We have recently been informed by the CLG that the format of files used for non-domestic EPC and DEC lodgments is to change in 1 month’s time. Furthermore, there is no transition period planned – old EPC and DEC lodgment files will simply no longer be active after the switchover date.

All Accreditation Schemes will stop taking EPC submissions created by software using versions of SBEM/EPCGen earlier than the soon to be released v3.3c. This means that Accredited Energy Assessors will have to update their EPC and DEC software to a version able to produce the new xml lodgment files, even if they are in the middle of a project.

Energy Assessors need to plan ahead to make sure that they can maintain business continuity and minimize disruption, but the short timescale might mean that the new software is not available until right before the deadline. A new version of SBEM is due early April and IES will be working flat out to update its SBEM, DSM and DEC software in time. However, we are still waiting for the release of final details and anticipate that we will be left with a period of around 2 weeks (including Easter) to amend, test, gain CLG approval and distribute the new version to our users! We’re making every possible arrangement to ensure we meet this 25th April deadline.

The switchover date is pretty firmly set as Saturday 25th April.

IES have asked CLG for a transitional period and we hope that this will be accepted in order to allow our customers, and other Energy Assessors, to changeover at the time that suits them. However, initial discussions have not been promising on this front.

David McEwan – IES UK Director

Posted in Building Regulations | No Comments »

Are EPC Data Gathers for the scrap heap?

March 13th, 2009 | by admin

Are EPC Data Gathers for the scrap heap?

Posted using ShareThis

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Are EPC Data Gatherers for the scrap heap?

March 13th, 2009 | by David McEwan

There is a growing concern from many in the industry that competent surveyors might be banned from collaborating with accredited Energy Assessors on the creation of commercial EPCs.

CLG recently issued a widely distributed draft directive to the Accreditation Schemes relating to the department’s concerns about the use of data gathers.  This was in response to questions being raised about the accuracy of some of the EPCs being submitted.  It set out possible changes to restrict the collection of EPC data by those other than qualified Energy Assessors, which could limit the scope for competent surveyors to collaborate on the production of accurate EPCs.

It’s become evident that standards need to be set and there should be no place for data gathers of dubious accuracy.  However, the suggested allowance for Level 4 and 5 assessors to use ‘data gatherers’ under certain conditions appears to be too restrictive to meet the needs of a struggling industry.

CLG should be cautious before jumping to any snap decisions.  Accreditation Schemes need sufficient flexibility to encourage the right experienced professionals to collaborate on EPCs especially on more complex buildings where data gathering and EPC input are inevitably more specialist tasks. 

It’s a difficult tightrope to walk – to put in sufficient measures to raise standards without being too prescriptive.  We need arrangements that will allow professional surveyors to work, or even appoint commercial Energy Assessors.  EPCs need to be able to improve the standards of building and also fit with the established ways professionals within the industry are already collaborating.

See Building Services Design and Building for more information

Posted in Building Regulations, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

Boston Architectural College & Worcester Polytechnic Institute

February 25th, 2009 | by Michelle

 IPD: Downtown Sailing Advanced Studio Course

Who says engineers and architects don’t get along? In a class that I am assistant teaching this Spring semester, along with Andreas Savvides AIA, AICP of Boston Architectural College and Alan Quinn of Sasaki Associates, Inc., Masters and Bachelors of Architecture students have been teamed with Worchester Polytechnic Institute cost estimating students to evolve their creative designs into affordable, energy efficient structures. Through a grant from the American Institute of Architects, Len Charney, Head of the BAC Practice Department, was able to secure laptops that could be used by each individual student throughout the semester. Each laptop is loaded with the latest Autodesk Revit software, and of course, IES Virtual Environment and the IES Revit Plug-in.

The basis of the class is to take a project from a previous semester, a boathouse, and readapt it for the new site at Four Point Channel in downtown Boston. The site is minutes from the Boston IES office, and is actually on a plot of manmade land. As many may not know, Boston grew for years, expanding into the surrounding bodies of water through a gravel infill project. (For more information of this: http://www.iboston.org/rg/backbayImap_1890.htm ) By pulling out fill (dirt, gravel, etc) from the hills in Boston, and eventually from the surrounding areas, Boston increased its footprint exponentially. This new site is going to require student to rework their previous boathouse project in major ways. Some of the key differences at the new site include the height from the retention wall to the water (the previous site had a gradual slope down to the water) to the manmade context (the other site was vegetated) to the difference in look and size of the surrounding buildings. The result will be a completely different looking boathouse as students adapt it to the new site and urban context.

The location in Boston showing IES Boston and the project site

This class will depend on using BIM (Building Information Modelling) from the early design stages. Alan Quinn has taught the students how to use Revit Architecture 2009, and students, guided by me (Michelle Farrell of IES Boston), will be constantly run their models through IES as they change or adapt them to the new site conditions. Each design move will have impacts on the heating and cooling loads, total energy usage, and daylighting inside of the space. Student will be required to keep track of the effects of these changes, and then modify their final models to improve energy performance.
Please stay tuned for more updates from this class, including images from the student’s final projects in May!

The Kauffman Model is a great training resource for the class

 

Here are some images from the site visit:

site visit

 

 

Posted in Sustainability, Uncategorized | No Comments »

« Previous Entries